Apparatus for manufacturing rail anchors



4 192 1,644,283 Oct 7 L. A. SCHNEIDER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING RAILANCHOHS Filed Sept, 29, 1924 5 Sheet s-Sheet 1 I T I l I l ll FIIII1,644,283 1927' L. A. SCHNEIDER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING RAIL ANCHORSFiled Sept. 29, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,644,283 1927' A. SCHNEIDERAPPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING RAIL ANCHORS Filed Sept, 29. 1924 5Sheets-Sheet 3 1 O Oct 927 A. SCHNEIDER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING RAILANCHORS Filed Sept, 29, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1,644,283 1927' L. A.SCHNEIDER APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING RAIL ANCHORS Filed Sept. 29, 19245 Sheeis-Sheet 5 orne Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAURENCE A. SCHNEIDER, F CANTON, OHIO, AssICNoB T0 CANTON FORGE ai AXLECOMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. q

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING RAIL ANCHORS.

Application filed September 29, 1924. Serial No. 740,593.

My invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing rail anchors ofsheet metal. The primary object of the invention is to provide a new andimproved apparatus for manufacturing devices of the above character,whereby the rail gripping jaws and the interlocking portions of theanchor members may he made with a high degree of accuracy by bendingmetal blanks to the desired configuration, and whereby the bending ofsaid blanks, even though the portions bent be relatively short, may beeffected with a minimum stretch of metal.

A further object is to provide new and improved constructions,arrangements and devices in an apparatus hereinafter describedandclaimed for carrying out the above stated object and foraccomplishing such other objects as will appear from a tie scription ofthe invention SllOWlill'l the annexed drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a Fallroad rail and cross tieshowing one form of rail anchor that may be formed with my improvedapparatus Fig. 2 is a face view of the rail anchor shown in Fig. 1, thebase portion of the rail being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the rail anchor members;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of another rail anchor member adapted tohave an interlocking engagement with the member shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front view in elevation of my preferred form of apparatusused in connection with the manufacture of the rail anchor members shownin Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the base portion of the machine; I

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the die sectionsemployed in connection with certain bending operations in themanufacture of the member shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a sheet metal blank from which the member shownin Fig. 3 is formed;

Figs. 8 and 9 are side views in elevation showing the dies andassociated parts of the apparatus used in connection with the finishingoperations of the member shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of a sheet metal blank from which theanchor member shown in Fig. 4. is formed, a portion of the blank beingillustrated in this figure as being bent to a position to provide a tieabutment for the anchor;

Figs. 11 and 12 are views in elevation of the blank and the die sectionsemployed for forming certain bends in the blank; and

Figs. 13 and 14 are views in elevation showing the dies and associatedmechanism of the apparatus for performing the finishmg operation inconnection with the manufacture of the anchor member shown in Fig. 4.

1y improved apparatus, to be hereinafter described, is particularlysuitable for use in the manufacture of a sheet metal anchor of the twopiece type shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, but may,obviously, be used in connection with the manufacture of other types ofanchors where similar conditions are present. The rail anchorillustrated in the drawings is a device consisting of two jaw members l0and 11 which grip opposite edges of the rail base 13 and have a wedginginterlocking engagement with each other at a point beneath the base ofthe rail. The member 10 of the anchor is formed at one end with a jawportion 14 adapted to grip one edge of the rail base, which jaw portionis so formed as to provide recesses 15 and 16 to provide clearance forthe upper and lower corners of the rail base, and thereby insure a firmbearing engagement of the jaw 14 and the body portion of the member withthe upper and lower surfaces respectively of the rail base. The otherend of the anchor is bent to provide a channel shaped portion 17, theupstanding flange 18 of which is relatively low and extends at an angleto the longitudinal center of the rail so as to function as a wedge whenthe same is interlocked with the mating member 11. The flange 18 ispreferably bent inwardly so as to stand at an angle to the vertical, soas to provide a hook-shaped configuration. At a point intermediate thejaw and said channel shaped portion, a projection is bent downwardly toprovide an abutment 19 adapted to bear against a vertical face of thecross tie 20.

The member 11 is formed from a sheet surface of the rail base.

metal blank of the configuration shown in Fig. 7, bent to provide a jawportion for engaging the opposite edge of the rail. The jaw portion ofthis member, like the jaw port-ion of member 10, is provided withrecesses 22 and 23 to provide clearance for the upper and lower cornersof this edge of the rail base and therebj insures a firm contact,of thejaw 21 and t 1e body of the" member with the upper and lower surfaces ofthe rail base at a point within the edges of the base. The extremity ofthe jaw 21 is also preferably curved upwardly, as shown at 24. The otherend of the member 11 is formed with a downturned flange 25 ofsubstantially the same height as the flange 18 and extends at an angleto the longitudinal axis of the rail so as to cooperate with the wedgingsurface of the flange 18. The flange 25 is also inclined vertically sothat. the flanges 18 and 25 will provide an interlocking engagement toprevent the channel shaped portion of the member 10 from moving downwardwith relation to the under The member 11 is preferably made of slightlythicker material than the member 10 so as to provide a relatively thickportion or striking surface to receive the hammer blows during theapplication of the anchor to a rail.

The anchor is applied to the rail by hooking the jaws of the members 10and 11 over opposite edges of the rail base. The member 11 is thendriven longitudinally of the rail so that the angularly disposed flanges18 and 25 of the members will effect a firm wedging engagement with eachother and thereby produce a tight gripping action of the jaws 14 and 21upon the opposite edges of the rail base.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, I have shown my improved apparatus,including the die sections and cooperating mechanism adapted for use inconnection with the manufacture of the rail anchor member 11. Theapparatus illustrated consists of a base 26 formed with upstanding guidemembers 27. A crank shaft 28 is journaled in bearings 29 at the upperend of the guides 27 and is connected by means of a connecting rod 30 toa reciprocating head 31. The head 31 operates between the guides 27 andcarries on its lower surface die sections 32 and 33 which sectionscooperate with die sections 32-33' secured to the base to bend the blank34 (Fig. 7) to the desired configuration. The operation of thereciprocating head 31 is controlled by a treadle clutch mechanism 28".

After the blank 34 is heated to a suitable bending temperature, it isbent to the configuration shown in Fig. 7 by means of the die sections32-32 The final bending operations to which the blank is subjected areaccomplished by means of the die sections 33--33 and the mechanismassociated therewith, to be hereinafter described. The die sections 32and 33, it will bev observed, are carried on a single reciprocatinghead, so that two blanks may be operated upon simultaneously, that is tosay, that the initial bending of one blank and the finishing operationson another are performed simul-' taneously so that one completed anchormen1- ber may be made for each working stroke of the machine.

The die sections 3232 are formed with oppositely disposed surfaces 35-35which, when the die sections are brought together, bend the blank to itsinitial or partially formed contour as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawin s.The point 36 of the die section 32 is of such configuration as to formthe clearance recess 23 of the member 11 shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Duringthe initial bending operation the end 37 of the blank is bent over therib 38 of the die section 32 and pressed firmly against its side 39 soas to form the inclined flange 25 of the anchor member. The curvedsurface 40 of the die section 32 is so proportioned as to insure thepressing of the end- 37 of the blank firmly against the surface 39 ofthe die section 32 and thereby insure a uniform inclination of theflange 25 of the finished member. The rib 38 of die section 32 is sodisposed that the bending of the end 37 of the blank will be effected aspreviously mentioned, along a line parallel to the diagonal edge 41 ofthe blank. Reference numeral 42 designates a stop member against whichthe blank 34 is positioned so as to insure the proper positioning of theblank on the die section 32. The proper position of the blank isindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

After the blank is bent to the configuration shown in Fig. 7, it ispositioned as shown in Fig. 8, upon the anvil 43 of the die section 33and held firmly on the anvil during the finishing operations by means ofa dog 44. The dog 44 is formed at one end with an angular portion 45corresponding to the configuration of the flanged end portions of thepartially formed flange and is pivoted at the other end by a pin 46 tothe die section 33. The dog is normally held in elevated position bymeans of a spring 47 and is moved to a blank holding position by meansof a'cam member 48 which projects downwardly from the die section 33 soas to engage the corner 49 of the dog. The angular end of the dog 44 ispressed against the blank by means of a spring plunger 50 carried by thedie section 33 and is held in such position by means of such springplunger and the engagement of the flat surface 50 of the dog with thesurface 51 of the cam member 48.

The end of the anvil 43 is formed with an enlargement, one portion 52 ofwhich fits Inn tit)

into the recess 23 formed in the blank by the end 36 of the die 32. Theother portion of said enlargement forms the clearance recess 22 of theanchor member when the end 51 of the blank is bent to 1ts completedform. The end 51 of the blank is bent around the die -13 by means of anarm 55 pivoted at 56 to the die section 33 and formed at the other endwith a rounded portion 57 which engages the blank. The arm 55 is guidedbetween camways 58 ot the die section 33 and is provided with rollers 59which roll upon the cam surfaces 58 when the die section 33 is movedfrom the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9.

The finished anchor member is removed from the anvil by means of akick-off mechanism consisting of a slide 60 normally held in itsinoperative position by means of a spring 61. The slide 60 has a slidingconnection 62 with a pivoted dog 63 adapted to be rocked to move theslide toward the anvil when the reci 'n-ocating head 31 of the machineapproaches its extreme upper position. The rocking movement of the dog68 is effected by means of an arm 64 pivoted to the head 31 so as topass over the dog 63 during the downward stroke of the head 31, butwhich engages with the dog 63 and rocks the same when the headapproaches the limit of its upward stroke.

lVhen manufacturing the member 10 of the rail anchor illustrated herein,a blank 65 of the configuration shown in Fig. 10.1s sheared from a metalsheet of the desired thickness, the end 66 of the blank being sheared ona diagonal line and the blank being provided along its longitudinal edge67 with a portion 68. The blank is heated to a suitable bendingtemperature and is subjected while it is hot to a plurality of bendingoperations, all bending operations being preferably completed with asingle heatin; of the blank. The first of the bending operationsconsists in bending the portion 68 to a right angle with respect to thebody portion, so as to provide the tie abutment 19 of the anchor, shownbest in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The next of the bending operationsconsists in offsetting the body portion of the blank laterally andbending one end thereof upwardly to the configuration shown in dottedlines in Fig. 11. The diagonal end 66 of the blank is then bent upwardlyand outwardly so as to partially form a channel shaped portion 17 of theanchor. The next and final bending operation consists in bending the end66 of the blank to its finished position, so as to provide the inclinedflange of the anchor member, and the bending of the upstanding portion69 at the other end of the blank to provide the rail engaglng aw 14 ofthe anchor member.

The portion 68 of the blank may be bent to the position shown in Fig. 10by any suitable means, for example, by means of suitable die sectionssecured to the machine in the manner disclosed in connection with themanufacture of the member 11, of the anchor. The other bendingoperations above mentioned are performed preferably by means of diesections 7070, 71-71, and 7272. The upper die sections 70, 71, and 72.are secured to the reciprocating head 31 of the machine, and the lowerdie sections 70", 71, and 72" are secured to the base of the machine insubstantially the same manner as that shown in connection with the thesections employed in the manufacture of the member 11 of the anchor.

The die sections 7070 are formed with cooperating faces of substantiallythe contour shown in Fig. 11. The liank is supported in a diagonalposition on the shoulders 73 and 74 of the die section 7O with thediagonal edge 66 of the blank resting on the diagonal face 7 5 of thedie section. The blank is then pressed between the die sections tooffset the body portion of the blank laterally and bend the end 69thereof upwardly, substantially as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 11.The bent blank is then positioned upon the die section 71, in whichposition the end 66 of the blank rests on a curved shoulder 76 of thedie section 71, and the bend 78 at the other end of the blank rests uponthe curved surface -79 of said die section. The die section 71 isprovided with a projection 80 which, when the section 71 is moveddownward, engages the angular portions 81-82 of the blank and pressesthem into a recess 83 of the die section 71 to partially form thechannel shaped portion 17 of the anchor member. When the die section 71reaches the limit of its downward movement, it presses the blank firmlyagainst the walls of the recess 83 and against the surface 84 of the diesection 71*. The projection 80 and the recess 83 taper in width so as toform the bend 85 of the blank on a line parallel to the diagonal edge66, thereby forming the upstanding flange of the anchor of uniformheight throughout. The other bends in the body portion are preferablyformed on lines perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the blank.The blank is then placed in an inverted position on an anvil portion 86of the die section 7 2*. The. anvil 86 is formed at one end with aportion 87 corresponding in contour to the inner wall of the channelshaped portion 17 of the finished anchor member, and is formed at theother end with curved portions corresponding substantially to thecontour of the jaw end of the anchor member. The end 66 of the blank isbent inwardly and pressed firmly against the wall 88 of the anvil bymeans of a dog 89 pivoted at its lower end to the die section 72 by abolt 90 and formed on its inner face with a recess 91 of such contour asto bear against the entire outer surface of member 94 carried by diesection 72. The

member 94 is provided with a cam surface 95 which bears against the dogto swing 1t inwardly when the die section 72 moves downwardly from theposition shown in Fig.

13 to the position shown in Fig. 14 When the dog 89 is moved to thelimit or its working stroke, it is held in such position during thesubsequent bending of the blank by means of an engagement of the rearface 96 of the dog with a vertical inner face 97 of the cam member 94.

T he end 69 of the blank is bent around the end 98 of the anvil toprovide the jaw portion 14 of the finished anchor member. This end ofthe anvil is formed with beads 98' and 99 which provide for the formingof the clearance recesses 15 and 16, respectively, of the anchor member.The bending of the end 69 of the blank is accomplished by means of apivoted arm 100 carried by the upper die section 72 and formed at itslower end with a rounded angularly disposed portion 101, which engagesthe end 69 of the blank. The lower end of the arm 100 is provided onopposite sides with rollers 102, which bear on curved cam surfaces 103of the die secblank to provide the tie a utment and also the diesections for performing the other bending operations may all be suitablyarranged on one machine, grooves for the attachment of the dies beingshown in the base and in the head 31 of the machine in Fig. 5, so thatthe several bending operations may be performed on different blanksduring the same stroke of the reciprocating head 31 of the machine,thereby making it posslble to finish one complete member of the anchorfor each operating stroke of the machine, thereby permitting, by theclose arrangement of the die sections, the shifting of the severalblanks from one die section to another with a minimum length of time sothat the blanks when subjected to the final bending operation, will beof sufliciently high temperature to insure that these final bendingoperations will be made with a high degree of accuracy.

While 1 have described my invention in connection with dies suitable foruse in the manufacture of one type of rail anchor, it will be understoodthat I contemplate all modifications in structure that come within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a die sectionadapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted to move intoengagement with the blank to hold the same on said die section, areciprocating member provided with means for moving said pivoted memberinto engagement with said blank, means on said reciprocating member forexerting pressure against said blank, and a pivoted element on saidreciprocating member for engaging an end of said blank 3o bend the samearound a portion of said 2. An apparatus of the character described,comprising a die section adapted to receive .a metal blank, a memberpivoted to move into engagement with the blank to hold the same on saiddie section, a reciprocating member provided with a cam element formoving said pivoted member into engagement with said blank, means onsaid reciprocating member for exerting pressure against said blank, anda pivoted element on said reciprocating member for engaging an end ofsaid blank to bend the same around a portion of said die.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprisin a die sectionadapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted to move intoengagement with the blank to hold the same on said die section, areciprocating member provided with a cam element; for moving saidpivoted member into engagement with said blank and for holding saidmember in operative engagement there with, means on said reciprocatinmember for exerting pressure against said lank, and a pivoted element onsaid reciprocating member for engaging an end of said blank to bend thesame around a portion of said die.

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a die sectionadapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted to move intoengagement with the blank to hold the same on said die section, areciprocating member provided with means for moving said pivoted memberinto engage ment with said blank, means resiliently yieldable on saidreciprocating member for exerting pressure against said blank, and apivoted element on said reciprocating member for engaging an end of saidblank to bend the same around a portion of said die.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a die sectionadapted to l receive a metal blank, a member pivoted to move intoengagement with the blank to hold the same on said die section, arcc1prorating member provided with means tor moving said pivoted memberinto engagement with said blank, means resiliently yieldable. on saidreciprocating member and adapted to bear upon said pivoted member forexerting ressure against sa1d blank, and a pivoted e ement on sa1dreciprocatmg member for engaging an end of said blank to bend the samearound a portion of sa1d die.

6. Apparatus of the character descrlbed, comprising a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank, a member plvoted to move intoengagement with said blank, cam mechanism for actuating said pivotedmember, a pressure member adapted to bear against said pivoted member,and a p1voted dog adapted to engage one end of the blank to bend thesame around a portion of said die.

7. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary themember adapted to receive a metal blank of angular configuration, amember pivoted to said die member and adapted to move into engagement wth said blank, cam mechanism for actuating said pivoted member, apressure member adapted to bear against said pivoted member, and apivoted dog adapted to engage one end of the blank to bend the samearound a portion of said die.

8. Apparatus of the character described, comprising astationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank of angular configuration, amember pivoted to said die member and adapted to engage one end of theblank to bend it against the die member, cam mechanism for actuatingsaid pivoted member, a pressure member adapted to bear against saidpivoted member, and a pivoted dog adapted to engage the other end of theblank to bend the same around a portion of said die.

9. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank, a pivoted member secured tosaid stationary die and adapted to move into engagement with one end ofsaid blank to bend the same around a portion of said die member. areciprocating cam member formed with an angular surface adapted to movesaid pivoted member into engagement with the blank and formed with avertical face for engaging said pivoted member and holding it in itsoperative position, a pressure member adapted to bear against saidpivoted member, and a pivoted dog adapted to engage the other end ofsaid blank to bend the same around a portion of said die.

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted at one end tosaid die member and formed at the other end with a blank pressingsurface corresponding in contour to a portion of said blank, areciprocating member provided with a cam element adapted to move saidpivoted member to its blank pressing position, means on saidreciprocating member for engaging one end of the blank to bend it aroundthe die.

11. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank. :1 member pivoted at one end tosaid die member and formed at the other end with a blank pressingsurface corresponding in contour to a portion of said blank, areciprocating member provided with a cam element adapted to move saidpivoted member to its blank pressing position, and means comprising apivoted arm on said reciprocating member for engaging one end of theblank to bend it around the die.

12. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted at one end tosaid die member and formed at its other end with a blank engagingsurface, a reciprocating member adapted to exert pressure against saidblank and provided with a cam element adapted to move said pivotedelement into its blank engaging position, and means comprising a pivotedarm on said reciprocating member for engaging one end of the blank tobend it around a portion of said die.

13. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted at one end tosaid die member adapted to be moved into engagement with said blank, areciprocating member provided with a cam element adapted to move saidpivoted member to its blank engaging position, means comprising apivoted arm on said reciproeating member for engaging one end of theblank to bend it around a portion of the die, and means on saidstationary die for guiding the lower end of said pivoted arm in a curvedpath.

14. Apparatus of the character described. comprising a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank. a member pivoted at one end tosaid die member and adapted to be moved into engagement with said blank,a reciprocating member provided with a cam element adapted to move saidpivoted member to its blank engaging position, means comprising apivoted arm on said reciprocating member for en aging one end of theblank to bend it aroun a portion of said die; said stationary die beingprovided with a cam surface for guiding the lower end of said arm in acurved path.

15. Apparatus of the character described comprising a stationary diemember adapted i to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted atone endadapted to engage a portion of said blank to press the same firmlyagainst the die, a reciprocating member provided with a cam adapted tomove said pivoted member to its blank engaging position and to hold thesame in said position, means comvided with cam surfaces for said rollersand adapted to guide the lower end of said arm in a curved path.

16. Apparatus of the character described comprislng a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted at one endadapted to be moved into engagement with said blank to hold the same inposition on said die, a reciprocating member for moving said pivotedmember into engagement with said blank, an arm pivoted at its upper endto said reciprocating member and adapted to engage at its lower end aportion of said blank to bend it around a portion of the die, the saiddie member being provided with a curved cam surface and the lower end ofsaid arm being provided with means engaging said cam surface of the diewhereby said lower end ofsaid arm is guided in a curved path.

17. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted at one end adated to be moved into engagement with sai blank to bend a portion of theblank against the die and to hold the same in position on said die, aspring for normally holding said pivoted member in its inoperativeposition, a reciprocating member for moving said pivoted member intoengagement with said blank, an arm pivoted at its upper end to saidreciprocating member and adapted to engage at its lower end a portion ofsaid blank to bend it around a portion of the die, the die member beinprovided with acurved cam surface an the lower end of said arm beingprovided with means engaging said cam surface of the die, whereby saidlower end of said arm is guided in acurved path.

18. Apparatus of the character described, comprislng a stationary diemember adapted to receive a metal blank, a member pivoted at one endadapted to be moved into engagement with said blank to bend a portion ofthe blank against 'the die and to hold the same in position thereon, aspring for normally holding said pivoted member in its inoperativeposition, a reciprocating member for moving said pivoted member intoengagement with said blank, means carried by said reciprocating memberfor pressing the blank against the upper face of said die, an armpivoted at its upper end to said reciprocating member and adapted toengage at its lower end a portion of said blank to bend it around saiddie, thevsaid die member being provided with a curved cam surface andthe lower end of said armbeing provided with means engaging said camsurface of the die, whereby said lower end of said arm is guided in acurved path.

19. Apparatus of the character described, comprislng a stationary diemember provided with a beaded end portion and adapted to receive a metalblank, a member pivoted at one end adapted to be moved into engagementwith said blank to bend a portion of the blank against the die and tohold the same in position on said die, a reciprocating member for movingsaid pivoted member into engagement with said blank, means carried bythe reciprocating member for pressing the blank against the upper faceof the die, an arm pivoted at its upper end to said reciprocating memberand adapt ed to engage at its lower end a portion of said blank to bendthe same around the beaded portion of said die, the said die memberbeing provided with a curved cam surface and the lower end of said armbeing provided with means engaging said cam surface of the die wherebysaid lower end of said arm is. guided in a curved path.

20. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a baseportion, of a reciprocating head, separable die sections secured to saidbase and head respectively and adapted to exert pressure on metal blanksto form preliminary bends therein, a finishing die including means forperforming the final bending operation, and mechanism for removing thework from the finishing die comprising a slide formed with projectionsadapted to extend over a portion of said finishing die, a pivoted doghaving a sliding connection with said slide, and means carried by saidhead and adapted to engage said dog to rock the same when the saidreciprocating head approaches its inoperative position.

LAURENCE A. SCHNEIDER.

